Does Your Business Really Need a Payment Gateway Solution?

Globalization has brought the world closer, but it has made it more complex. Gone are the days when payments were all about giving money to the cashier across the counter. Now, we have payment gateway solutions to help us out. Wondering what is a payment gateway and why your business needs it? This article will provide you with all the information you need to know about an online payment gateway. Let’s get started.

What is a payment gateway?

To put it in simple words, a payment gateway offers online payment solutions. Before processing the payment, a payment gateway identifies and verifies the payment method and then accepts the amount paid by the customer. Another important task that a payment gateway performs is that it encrypts sensitive information such as name, CVV and credit card number. All of this results in it being a very safe method of accepting payments.

Today, everyone has brought some product online. It seems very easy, isn’t it? Select the product you like, add it to your cart, make payment and voila! It is at your doorstep. What seems so easy actually involves a lot of processes taking place behind the scenes. Now, what ensures this smooth transfer of payments is a payment gateway. To explain further, it is a merchant service provided by an e-commerce application service provider that authorizes credit cards or direct payments processes for online e-business retailers or traditional brick and mortar retailers.

Now that the concept of a payment gateway is clear, let us focus on why does a merchant need one.

Why does a merchant need a payment gateway?

If you own a business online, you should have a payment gateway. According to Easebuzz mentioned below are the statistics that highlight why you need a payment gateway.

1. 42% of shoppers prefer online payment

2. It is expected that by 2023 the number of users making online payments will rise up to 699.4 million

3. The Digital India campaign resulted in 1.11 Billion digital transactions in January 2018

A payment gateway reduces the frequency of credit card theft and fraud as it encrypts sensitive information.

Now, that you know all you need to know about payment gateways you can go ahead and introduce one to your business that will increase the profitability. There are several factors you need to pay attention to while selecting a payment gateway, and it is advisable you do thorough research before choosing one. Easebuzz is a leading company in Pune that provides best payment gateway for small business. Make sure you visit their website before finalising a payment gateway solution for your business!

Security Measures in Payment Gateways

The boom of the e-commerce market in India has been so high that almost everyone buying products online are accustomed to the concept of payment gateway. An e-commerce payment gateway provides a secure platform to carry out the transaction process between the customer and the e-commerce website. You can either carry out the payment through your credit card, debit card or any other third party app.

The payment gateway is the crux of an online portal as most payment transactions happen online over a delivery mode like COD. Without a secure gateway, online websites cannot sell their goods or services, while customers cannot buy products without proceeding to a payment gateway.

Fear of fraud

The basic difference between buying a product from a local shop and buying online is a sense of trust. The chances of getting defraud while buying from a shop are minimal to zero, as compared to buying online. The common fears that are prevalent among customers are paying for a product online and never receiving it and risking our credit card/debit card details to a third party app.

Thankfully, the major players in the e-commerce business spend huge sums to maintain a robust framework so that we securely make transactions to buy products.

Let’s take a look at the security measures undertaken by these websites.

Security measures :

1. Data encryption

Data encryption is one of the most important security measures in the payment gateway. How does it work? When you enter your details in the payment gateway, it gets encrypted by using payment gateway public key and can only be decrypted by the payment gateway’s private key. Sounds hard to grasp? Consider this example.

When you are about to buy a product from an ‘X’ e-commerce’s app, and you click the credit card/debit card option, the app gives you ‘pay securely’ option, where you have ticked the box and as a result, the app saves the details so that the next you pay through the app, the process is sped up. This process is called encryption. The data can only be viewed by you and nobody else (unless somebody else views your phone). The data appears scrambled and illegible to anyone handling the server. This is known as decryption. It makes sure that your data is absolutely secured and even in case of a hack, your data appears illegible to the thieves in case they want to crack it.

2. Secure socket layer (SSL)

SSL is the standard security protocol used in online transactions which are practiced by all the major e-commerce websites. SSL establishes a link between a server and a browser. You enter the information on the browser and the information is taken by the server. SSL is also used for the authentication of the identity of the visiting customers and protects sensitive information like card details entered by customers.

While all the major e-commerce websites use SSL, the same cannot be said of the portals outside the list. So, it is advisable to the customers to only make transactions from websites with an SSL certificate. You can identify it by checking out the prefix ‘https’ at the start of the link and also look out for padlock symbol at the top left corner, adjacent to ‘https’.

3. Tokenization

Tokenization is a unique way of secure payment gateway, where the sensitive data like credit card/ debit card details are replaced with a string of illegible characters so that there is no risk associated with data breach. It secures the card’s data in the server and provides the customer with a unique token number that replaces the CC/DC details. Therefore, the next time the customer re-visits the website for a transaction, he can use the token number as a one-click payment.

These are some of the security measures used in payment gateways. If you are looking for online payment solutions practicing these security features, check out Easebuzz. It’s an online payment gateway in India that aims to make payment simple for businesses.

Did You Know Your Online Payment Getaway Can Do This?

Businesses often assume a payment gateway is a middleman between the customer and seller. All payment gateways do is pass on the money received from customers to the seller's bank account. Well, it is true that payment gateways are the middlemen when it comes to online transactions. However, this is not all they can offer. There are varied ways in which online payment gateways can help your business. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Accelerate the payment speed

Once upon a time, Sundays were meant for shopping. Individuals would travel to a shopping centre nearby and buy as per their requirements. But, this is not the same anymore. Today, customers prefer everything that is instant and can happen at the tip of their fingers; even when it comes to payments.

So, if your business opts for an online Payment Service Provider (PSP), you can give your customers a chance of utilizing your services without waiting for them physically. This eventually leads to faster payments.

2. Focus on what is important

When you use manual payment methods such as a cheque, you always have to worry about physically going to the bank and depositing it. Also, you need to maintain a record of all the payments manually. Don't you think you could save your time and effort by opting for an automated solution?

Well, you can, by choosing an online PSP. A payment gateway keeps a record of all your payments and processes them automatically. By opting for this solution, you will be able to invest your time in other essential things for your business.

3. Support multiple payment methods

When it comes to online transactions, a customer might use different modes of payments; some might prefer debit cards, while others might be comfortable using a mobile wallet. By opting for a PSP, you can support a myriad of payment methods.  According to a survey by Finserv, 43% of consumers like to buy at online stores that offer multiple payment options. Thus, using an online payment gateway solution, you are likely to enhance customer satisfaction.

When you offer faster payments and support different modes, you are likely to improve customer experience. Happier customers will help you grow your business! This is how one of the payment gateway companies in Pune can help you flourish. 

Transformation of Online Payment Solutions in the Era of Mobile Commerce

Mobile commerce, more commonly known as m-Commerce is the next development in the world of E-commerce. More than half of the world’s internet traffic comes from mobile devices. Reports show that a whopping 62% of smartphone users shop on their mobile devices. This means the competition amongst online payment solutions now stiffens. The potential for growth in this market is huge. All that is needed now is easy-to-use options which will not be a hassle for mobile users.

Online Payment Solutions

Being a part of this payments industry, you need to be well-prepared. You must update yourself on features that will help you beat competition and provide better service to your customers.
Here’s a list of the top 3 trends you should keep an eye out for if you offer online payment solutions in this era of m-Commerce:

• Web Payments :
  A major reason for the shift to mobile devices for shopping is ease and saved time. One could easily login through their mobiles, quickly sift through the website and make a purchase. At this purchase stage, the user hates filling up lengthy forms. They are regular buyers. Their buying experience becomes easier if they don’t have to fill the same mundane data points time and again. This is where web payments come in. Through web payments, the browser native UI can easily autofill all the previously filled data through the Payment Request API. This saves the time and effort spent by the user during the checkout and payment process.
• Faster operations :
  E-Commerce brands today, need better efficiency, greater control, and less reliance on the developer, according to Dan Conboy, MD, Shopify Plus Partner. They require quicker and leaner operations which will help them scale better. Online payment solutions also have to live up to this trend and help brands go live with online payment gateways without hassles on the technical and documentation side.
• Flexible payment options :
  You must have heard about or used the LazyPay option offered by Swiggy, right? What an amazing flexible payment option! You don’t have to spend time filling in your card or bank details. 3 clicks – add to cart, checkout, and pay through LazyPay – that’s all you need. Flexible payment options like these help you to increase the transaction rates as users won’t cancel the purchase just because the card did not work or they’ve forgotten their password their accounts.

We see the latest trends that have been transforming the payment industry thanks to mCommerce. The best payment gateway for e-commerce industry now would be the one which adapts to these changing times and adopts all these latest trends to be relevant. If you are looking to give your competitors a tough time, don’t forget to evolve and become better.

How to Retain Your Customers with an Online Payment Solution

Did you know you need to pay five times more the price to acquire a new customer than retain an existing one? Another study about customer retention states that a 5% increase in retention rate can boost profits by 25% to 95%. If you want to save costs and boost profits, it is time to build a strategy to retain customers and build a strong relationship with them. And one of the most effective ways to do this is by investing in a good payment gateway. Want to know how to boost your customer retention rate with an online payment solution? Keep reading to learn more.

1. Keep a simple registration process
Today, many online retailers make it mandatory for customers to register before making a purchase. This is where customers need to enter their name, surname, gender, PAN number, bank account number and many other details.
Because of this long process, customers might just drop the thought of making a purchase. To avoid this, keep the registration process simple. Invest in an online payment solution that supports quick onboarding.

2. Create an option to repeat orders
Don’t you like the idea of buying something at just one click? With this option, you won’t have to worry about browsing and looking for the right type, size and colour ever again. Imagine, the time your customers can save! This feature also encourages them to keep coming back to you.

3. Bid farewell to long call centre queues
An individual comes to your online store, makes a purchase and holds the phone for hours to know about the status of his order. Does your customer journey look like this? It is time to change it right away. This is because it hampers your customer satisfaction rate.
Instead of a call centre, address customer issues through email or social media accounts. For this, you can invest in a payment solution that comes with social media plugins. Thanks to this option, your team can address issues anywhere and anytime.

4. Send customised emails
The customer journey does not end when an individual makes a purchase. To encourage your customers to return to your online store, build a relationship with them. To do this, you can send out personalised emails. Whether you want to wish them a ‘happy birthday’ or enquire about their abandoned purchase, you can send emails for almost everything. Sending personalised emails shows your customers you value them.

5. Create a referral programme
Customers believe what other customers have to say. One of the studies states that customers are four times more likely to buy when referred by a friend. Hence, invest in a referral programme. One way to create an attractive referral programme is by offering an incentive to your existing customers.
For example, offer a discount to your customer when his referral makes the first purchase. This will encourage your current customers to refer your business to others and keep coming back for interesting offers.
From helping you make a simple registration process to creating a referral programme, one of the payment solutions in India can be your answer to a strong customer retention rate. If you are eager to encourage your customers to keep coming back, check out Easebuzz. This is an online payment gateway in India that aims to make payment simple for businesses.

Important Security Measures for Online Businesses

Cyber-security is indispensable due to the increasing data breaches payment gateways are facing. Taking necessary security measures is critical to protect both consumers and the business.

Data breaches not only pose security risks, but hold the potential to adversely impact your business due to loss in customer trust.

An online payment gateway is among the vital components of an e-commerce store, because of which no stone should be left unturned in the cyber-security department.

As a merchant, the responsibility to have the purchasing process under control so that risk is reduced at every step of a checkout lies on you. Data thieves’ are always one step ahead with regard to how new technologies function. This makes it imperative to strictly minimize the vulnerable points of your online payment gateway.

Even though technology is developing rapidly, keeping up with these changes to completely prevent fraud is a herculean task.  Thankfully, there are warning signs you can look for to minimize the occurrence of such activities.

Following are some ways to safeguard your business from cybercrime:

1. Monitor orders before shipping

This includes international orders as well. While this could be a time consuming process in the long run it will save you money.  Getting a signature upon delivery is another good way of checking that the order has been delivered to the right person. Pay particular attention to late night and early morning orders, as it’s the time period fraudsters often make purchases.

2. Avoid Using HTTP

Make sure the merchant login page is not in HTTP. If you use a web page that is in HTTP you make your page vulnerable to many kinds of security threats. Redirecting users to fake login pages, changing important details on the page in the middle of a transaction and submitting data are possible in HTTP. To avoid such dangers, most login pages are in HTTPS format which is very secure.

3. Using HSTS

HSTS stands for HTTP Strict Transport Security. It can be understood as a type of a header that directs a browser to HTTPS whenever a particular site is opened.

Once the user visits the site that has been preloaded with HSTS, he is unable to get access to the site using HTTP ever again in the future.

4. Using Secure Cookies

Cookies might sound harmless, but they shouldn’t be taken for their face value. Cookies must be marked as secure so that the browser can transfer cookies when the request is in HTTPS. Secure cookies will prevent the browser from transmitting data whenever the site is in HTTP. By doing so, even if a hacker has access to your cookies he will be unable to control sensitive data and make any problematic changes.

The best online payment gateways in India ensure they have strong safety measures in place to protect your business from the rising cyber-crime, so make sure you choose one that offers the highest degree of security.

Life-cycle of Digital Payments for a Card Payment Gateway

The concept of digital payments was born out of convenience and control for consumers. It is only natural for this concept to be consumer-centric as in all markets the consumer is king. Today we will take a closer look at the complex process of digital transactions in a card payment gateway that make life so easy for us. The gateway is a piece of technology through which several merchants and platforms are able to connect from the website to their customers’ mobile devices.

Verification

Once on the other side of the payment gateway, vendors ensure the transaction and consumer behind the transaction is legitimate. Vendors verify details by matching shipping and card addresses, CVV code, blacklisting for credit card default, and IP address. These checkpoints are essential to protect merchants from unnecessary and avoidable costs.

Involvement of Banks

After all the verifications are made, payment requests are routed to the customer’s issuing bank and the merchant’s acquiring bank. Funds are exchanged between these two parties. The card payment gateway sends the initial transaction request to the merchant’s acquiring bank, in response to which this bank requests a payment from the customer’s bank via the payment gateway. When communicating with the customer’s bank, payment gateways run a series of fraud prevention measures. The message of a declined transaction is relayed by the gateway to the customer through the merchant and all in a matter of microseconds.

Settlements

If things have flowed smoothly till this point, the merchant sends a ‘settlement request’ which is a way of confirming their action of charging the customer’s issuing card.

Bill Splitting

Some payment gateways even have an option to divide funds between sellers and facilitating platforms and maintain individual ledgers to do so.

All digital payments through payment gateways follow this cycle. A card payment gateway that stands apart is one that is reliable, secure, scalable, and offer tech-support. Easebuzz is one such platform that enables quick and easy payments end-to-end for upcoming businesses across India.